Booth Library
Encyclopedia
Booth Library, named after University Librarian Mary Josephine Booth, serves the students, faculty and staff of Eastern Illinois University
in Charleston, Illinois
.
opened in 1899 and was located in two rooms on the first floor of Old Main. This first library covered 2400 square feet (223 m²) and contained 2,500 volumes. By 1920, the Library had expanded to include a storage area on the fifth floor and the reading room covered part of a hallway. Two additional rooms were added in 1934.
The $2.1 million building was dedicated in 1950. Spread across four floors, 37500 square feet (3,483.9 m²) of space was available with seating for 500 people and shelf space for 150,000 volumes. By 1965, the collection had grown to 114,000 volumes. Construction began for an annex in 1967, which extended shelving capacity to 475,000 volumes and expanded seating areas to hold 1,300 people. The annex opened to the public in 1968.
worked closely with people from the library, the University, and the Illinois Capital Development Board to ensure that the renovated building would preserve the best features of the original architecture while improving the 1968 annex and unifying the original building, annex, and new addition to the south end of the building. The original 1948 south facade was exposed, restored, and now makes up one wall of the atrium connecting the north and south portions of the building. The 30 month renovation project was completed in 2002.
Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University is a state university located in Charleston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1895 as the Eastern Illinois State Normal School, a teacher's college offering a two-year degree, Eastern Illinois University gradually expanded into a comprehensive university with a...
in Charleston, Illinois
Charleston, Illinois
Charleston is a city in and the county seat of Coles County, Illinois, United States. The population was 21,838 as of the 2010 census. The city is home to Eastern Illinois University and has close ties with its neighbor Mattoon, Illinois...
.
Beginning of library services
The first library at Eastern Illinois UniversityEastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University is a state university located in Charleston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1895 as the Eastern Illinois State Normal School, a teacher's college offering a two-year degree, Eastern Illinois University gradually expanded into a comprehensive university with a...
opened in 1899 and was located in two rooms on the first floor of Old Main. This first library covered 2400 square feet (223 m²) and contained 2,500 volumes. By 1920, the Library had expanded to include a storage area on the fifth floor and the reading room covered part of a hallway. Two additional rooms were added in 1934.
Booth Library
Mary Josephine Booth, who became University Librarian in 1904, lobbied for a free-standing library building for many years. In the early 1940s, the new building was approved and architect Joseph Booton drew up the plans. In 1948, three years after her retirement, Miss Booth turned the first shovel full of earth to begin the construction of Booth Library.The $2.1 million building was dedicated in 1950. Spread across four floors, 37500 square feet (3,483.9 m²) of space was available with seating for 500 people and shelf space for 150,000 volumes. By 1965, the collection had grown to 114,000 volumes. Construction began for an annex in 1967, which extended shelving capacity to 475,000 volumes and expanded seating areas to hold 1,300 people. The annex opened to the public in 1968.
The Renovation
In 1999, work began on a $22.5 million renovation and expansion project. Total available space was increased to 165000 square feet (15,329 m²) and shelving capacity was expanded to 1,500,000 volumes. The Chicago-based firm Holabird & RootHolabird & Roche
The architectural firm of Holabird & Root was founded in Chicago in 1880. Over the years, the firm's designs have changed many times — from the Chicago School to Art Deco to Modern Architecture to Sustainable Architecture.-History:...
worked closely with people from the library, the University, and the Illinois Capital Development Board to ensure that the renovated building would preserve the best features of the original architecture while improving the 1968 annex and unifying the original building, annex, and new addition to the south end of the building. The original 1948 south facade was exposed, restored, and now makes up one wall of the atrium connecting the north and south portions of the building. The 30 month renovation project was completed in 2002.